Towing machine



June 27, 1944. M, B. BENSON TOWING MACHINE Filed April 1 1942 '2. Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. fie/v 'rr 6. 59/750 June 27, 1944. M. B. BENSON TOWING MACHINE Filed April 1, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. fife/w 6'. Benson Patented June 27, 1944 UNITE D STATES PATENT OF FlC E 7 TOWING MACHINE Melvin B.. Benson, Scotch Plains, N. J., assignor to Lidgerwoodr Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of New York Application April 1, 1942, Serial-N0. 437,108

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a towing machine and more particularly to a novel and improved arrangement for automatically controlling the tension on a tow cable wound on the cable drum of the machine. The invention willbe betterunclerstood from. the following description and the annexed drawings, in which I have shownan illustrative embodiment ofv the invention and in which 7 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a towing machine embodying my invention; g

Fig. 2' is a plan view ofrthemachine .ofFig. 1, parts being broken away better to, illustrate the construction and the operation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view. of "certain parts shown in Figs. 1and 2;. i.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line '3 -'3. of Fig. 3;"

Fig. 5 isa more or less diagrammaticvi'ew on an enlarged scale of certain of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 5 including a wiring diagram showing. one way in which certain ofjthe i partsmay be operated electrically; and

Fig. 5 i's'the same as a portion of. Fig. 5,.with the parts shown in cable-paying-outrelation.

In my prior Patent 2,250,985, issued-July. 29, 1941, thereis-disclosed atowing, machine in.-which provision is made for automatic operation, where.- by the pull on the cable attachedto the machine will cause thecableto.be-paidout when such pull exceeds a predetermined amount; theamachine being arranged to reclaim the, cable .automatizcally. when the cablepull fallsbelowthe prede termined amount. In such earlier machine; amotor is used'both to pay-out and.,to.reclaim the cable.

ation of the machine solelyto reclaim-the paid out portiorrof 'thecable.

In the drawings of the illustrative-form of my present-invention, there is provided the usual cable dru n lll mounted ona hollow shaft H, a gear I2--beingconnectedtothe hollowshaft. The hollow shaft-is-supportedinbearingsl3; l3". Ex tending" through the bearing l3 isa sleeve to which'the drum I is connected, theouter-end of this sleeve having a disc l 4 provided with I a series of openings to. be engaged by driving pins n a'clutch. member. l;splined to the-hollow shaft I l so. .that the rotation of the gear l2 will drivethe' cable drum. l0. When it .isdesiredto drive a painof ypsyheads; theiclutch member I5 may moved along the v hollow shaft. to dis: engage the driving pins from the disc Hlzand to engage another.setofdriving pins withQone of the gypsyhea'ds l6'to drive thesame and there- In the machine ofthe present invention, the'motor isused in the automatic operby to drive the other gypsyhead through a shaft ll extending through the: hollow shaft I l-.

The machine may also be supplied with the teeth l8 and the usual'detents therefor and with the usual means for controlling the-Spoofing of the cable on the drum I0; Since these are no part of my present invention, further description thereof is unnecessary:

The motor i8 is provided-With a braking apparatus I9and'a transmission 20, all ofwhich may be as shown in" my prior Patent No. 2,250,985. On the end of the transmission shaft is a pinion 2| meshing with a gear 22, keyed-toe. shaft 23 extending through the journal'of a housing 24 which is journaled in a-bearing-25:

' ln alignment-with shaft 23 isashaft 26"having one 'end extending-through theotherjournal of the housing; 24 which isjournaled in bearing 25'.- the other end of shaft- 26being journaled in a bearing 21. A driving pinion 28-'iskeyed' to-th'e shaft 26. The shaft'23 has its inner end extendinginto a recessinthe endof shaft 26- to-g'ive shaft 23 additional support. On the inner end of shaft 23 and within housing is a sungear 29. Keyed to-the endof shaft 26 withinthe housing 24 is a spider-carrying one ormore planet gears meshing with an annular gear 3| connected to the 'housing lli The sun gear- 29; the-planet gears-30 and the annular gear 31- constitute a planetarytrans missionby which power-from'the motbrmay-be transmitted through the-gearsZl, 22, shaft-23; sungear 29, planet-gears 30); shaft-26; and pinion 2 8 to the'main driving gear l2 to drive the drum 10, it being necessary for such drive that the housing 24 and, with it, the annular gear 31; be held against rotation. The diameters of the gears" l2 and 28' are so chosen that alarge. num'- ber of turns of the shaft- 26 are-required for one turn of thegear l2and'therefore of the drum H]; In other words, the shaftl-fi 'is'a relatively-highe speed shaft. I r i The exterior ofthe housing: 24 has formed thereon abrake-drum around whicli extends a brake band made up' of the twoparts32; 32; the upper ends of which are connected respectively to pins; on nuts 33,- 33 which; turn; engagexree' spectively with aright-hanwandaleft-hand thread" on the-adjustingscrew 34. This screw may; be-turned by ah'an-d wheel, such as 35,.to adjust the distance "between -nuts- 33;- '33-...'. The lower end of the band 32, as-best shown in Fig.5; is tconnectd to a pin 36 ona lever '31, which has aslot. engaging a, pin 38- con-nected -to the ibaseiof the machine. The lower end of th'e band member 32 is connected to one end of a link 39, the other end of the link being connected to a pin 40 on the lever 31. The lever 31 has a long arm extending therefrom, through which passes a rod 4| provided with a spring 42, the tension of which may be adjusted by the nut 43, the other end of the spring bearing against a fixed member 44 on the base of the machine. The end of the rod 4| engages with a switch lever 45 (Fig. 1), the switch itself being indicated diagrammatically at 46 (Fig. 5).

Mounted on the base of the machine is a switch 41 (Fig. 5) controlled by a lever '48 (Fig. 3),

this lever carrying a cam roller adapted to engage with a cam 49 having a notch in the edge thereof into which the cam roller of the lever 48' will enter under the pressure of a spring when the parts are in the relation shown. in Fig. 3.;

The cam 49 is mounted on a stud suitably supported on the base of the machine (Fig. 4), a

worm gear 50 being connected to cam '49, the Worm gear being driven by the worm 50' through a chain belt 51 engaging a sprocket on shaft and driven by that shaft through a clutch sleeve 52 which may be moved into and out of clutching position by a suitable hand-operated lever 53, the sleeve 52 being driven from shaft 26'by the pin 54. Connected to the lever 53 through suitable linkage is a switch 55 (Fig. 5) enclosed in a suitable casing 56 (Fig. 3). The parts shown in 3 and 4 are similar to corresponding parts shown in my prior Patent 2,250,985 and need not be further described.

With the parts positioned as shown in the drawings, the machine is ready for automatic operation, it being understood that the cable will have been paid out by hand-operated. means (to be referred to hereinafter) the desired distance between a ship being towed, for instance, and the shipon which the towing machine is placed, or between the machine and any other desired point of attachment of the cable. For purpose'of illustration, however, I will describe the operation'as it wouldoccur in towing.

The-motor shaft brake l9 and the hand brake 32, 32' will have been adjusted so that they will hold the drum in against rotation under the pull on the cable necessary .for'the towing when the sea is quiet and the pull of the tow is therefore relatively constant. The pull on the cable will tend to rotate the shait26 and with it the spider carrying the planet gears 30. But such rotation will not occur so long as the. pull on the cable does not exceed an amount determined by the adjustment of the brak band 32, 32', since'the housing 24, and with it the annular gear 3|, are held against rotation by the brake .band and the sun gear 29 is held against rotation by the motor shaft brake l9. In other words, by the cooperation of, the two brakes, the pull on the cable cannot rotate the motor. v

Now if a surge occurs so that the pull on the towing;cable exceeds ,the predetermined amount for which the brakes are adjusted, the torque on shaft 26 transmitted thro gh the planet gears will be .sufiicient to turn housing 24in the brake band 32, 32, in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 5, it being understood that sun gear- 29 is still held against turning. by motor shaft brake IS. The pull on the band 32 from the rotating housing will move the pin 36 to the left of Fig. 5 and rotate, the lever 31 on its pin 38 against the pressure of the spring 42, as shown in E 1 g. 5. But the rotation counterclockwise (Fig. 5) of the lever 31 will move the pin 40 not only to the left in Fig. 5 but also will carry it toward the periphery of the brake drum, as shown in Fig. 5. It will be seen that the levers connecting pins 36, 40 and 36' constitute what is, in effect, a toggle arrangement such that, as the pin 40 is moved toward the center of the brake drum, the distance between the pins 36, will .be increased, thereby increasing the length of the brake band made up of the parts 32, 32'. This will loosen the band on the drum to free the latter for rotation. The lever 31 is provided with a slot to engage the fixed pin 38 so that the lever may adjust itself by movement at right-angles to the axis of the pin 38 as well as by rotation around it, as indicated in Fig. 5.

When the pull on the cable has dropped to the predetermined amount as the surge ceases, the

, spring 42 will rotate the lever 31 to re-set the transmission brake band 32, 32' by moving the pin 40 away from the periphery of the drum, thereby bringing the pins 36 and 35' closer together, as shown in Fig. 5.

In this way, excessive strain on the cable due to surges and the like will be compensated for without the use of the motor I8, that motor not having been energized nor the brake l9 released while the drum is rotating to pay out the cable necessary to relieve the excessive strain.

It is desirable, however, that the paid-out cable shall be automatically taken up. To this end, I have provided the circuit arrangement shown diagrammatically at the right-hand side'of Fig. 5. The arrangement shown is to operate on direct current, the main supply leads being indicated in the drawings with plus and minus signs respectively. Th several switches and parts are shown in Fig. 5 in the positions which they would occupy when the pull on the cable is normal; that is, before excessive strain is put on the cable b a surge or the like. At this time, switch 41 is opened and switch 46, controlled by the transmission brake, is closed, switch 55 having been closed by the movement of the lever 53 when closing theclutch '52 to put the machine in condition for automatic operation.

When the surge occurs, the movement of the lever 31 will have permitted the switch arm 45 to move the switch 46 to open the same. The rotation of shaft 26 as the cable was paid out, through the belt 5!, rotated th lever 48 by movement of the cam 49 toclose the switch 41, the switch 41 being held closed so long as the cam roller on the lever 48 is out of the notch of the cam 49. The gearing between the shaft 25 and the cam 49 is selected so that the cam 49 makes less than one turn over any normal paying-out of the cable under a surge or the like. 7

As the surge ceases and the brake band 32, 32 is movedintobraking position on the transmission by thespring 42, switch 46 is closed. Bearing in mindthat switch 41, however, is still held closed by the cam 49, it will be seen that the current will pass through switch 55, wire 51, switch 46, wire 58, switch 41, wires 59 and 60 through the solenoid BI and wire 62 to the wire 63 constitut-v ing the other side of the currentsupply. Solenoid .6l,' when energized, is arranged to close switches 64, 65.' This results in the energizing of the motor through wires 1|, l0, switch 65, wires 69, 68, 61, switch 64 and wire 66 through the motor field to wire 63.' At the same time, the solenoid 12 of the brake I9 is energized to release the motor-shaft brake shown diagrammatically at 13. 1

The energizing of the motor and the release of the motor shaft brake causes the motor to rotate the cable drum to take up the paid-out cable, the transmission band brake being applied at this time so that power may be transmitted from the shaft 23 through the planetary gearing transmission to the shaft 26. The rotation of the shaft 26 returns the notch in the cam 49 to its initial position. at which point the roller on the lever 48 falls into the notch in the cam 49 to open switch 41 and thus break the connections to the motor and the motor shaft brake, whereupon the parts'are restored to their original positions.

While my invention is concerned primarily with the automatic operation by which the cable is permitted to pay out and to be re-claimed during surges or the like which would otherwise produce excessive strain on the cable, I have also provided means by which the drum may be operated by hand. For this purpose, switch 55 is disconnected from the wire 51 and is connected to a hand-operated switching drum 14. This movement of the switch 55 will occur when the handle 53 is moved to disconnect the clutch sleeve 52,

must be done when the machine is to be handoperated. the movement of the sleeve 52 disconmeeting the cam 49 from the shaft 26. By rotating drum 14, the closing of the contact will energize solenoid Bl to energize the brake solenoid 12 and the motor l8, as before, to take up any desired length of cable.

Similarly, if the drum M is rotated by hand to close the contacts 15 and open contacts 15, then a solenoid 1'! similar to solenoid 6i will be energized to cause solenoid l2 and the motor armature and field to be energized, the connections being the reverse, however, of that of relay 6| so that the motor is driven in the opposite direction to pay out the desired length of cable.

While I have shown electrical circuits adapted to be operated by direct current, it will be understood that such circuits can also be arranged to be operated by alternating current.

The advantages of the present machine will be obvious. By having the planetary transmission outside of the brake drum and by providing the high gear ratio through the driving pinion 28 and the gear 29, with the resulting high speed of the shaft 26 for a given rate of cable drum rotation, I am enabled to use relativelysmall gears in the transmission and, consequently, a relatively small housing therefor which canv readily be made oil tight and filled with lubricant. By having the toggle arrangement by which the hand brake will be released, I am not dependent on the maintenance of the brake drum surface and the cooperating band surfaces in any fixed relative condition as would be necessary if-the paying out of the cable during a surge was to be measured solely by the slippage of the brake drum within the brake bands. With my arrangement, no matter whatthe condition of these surfaces may be, within reason, the excess torque on the shaft 26-, produced by a surge, will begin a small movement of the transmission housing 24 in the brake band and this immediately causes a release of the brake through the toggle arrangement which I have provided; This permits an almost instantaneous response to any sudden increase in pull on the cable, the spring 42 acting, in effect, as a buffer against shocks. Since the paying out of the cable does not require the rotation of the motor armature and the parts connected therewith, there is no necessity for overcoming: the inertia of such parts with a resulting quickening of the response of the machine to excessive-pull. Moreover, the non-operation of the motor in response to a surge avoids the necessity for high peak currents which would otherwise be required if the motor were called on to operate the drum in response to any sudden increase in pull on the cable. Since the motor operates onlyto take up paid-out cable, the parts may be arranged so that this will occur in a relatively leisurely manner, with the consequent avoidance ofhighpeak currents, quick acceleration for such reclaiming being unnecessary.

While I have shown the invention as embodied in a specific form, it should be understood that various changes in detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In, a towing engine, a cable drum, a motor. driving connections between the motor and drum, including a sun gear, planet gears and an annular gear meshing with the planet gears, a brake drum connected to the annular gear, a brake band arranged to cooperate with the brake drum, means to release and set said brake band on the brake drum in response to movement of the brake band comprising a lever having one end of the brake band connected thereto, a link connected to the lever andv to the other end of the brake band, the points of attachment of the brake band and link to the lever being po sitioned on the lever so that, on movement of the brake band in one direction, the ends of the band will be brought together to tighten the band on the drum and, on movement of the brake band in the opposite direction, the ends of the band will be moved apart to loosen the band on the drum, and a spring connected to the lever normally holding the brake band in engagement with the brake drum.

2t In a towing engine, a cable drum, a motor, driving connections between the motor and drum, including a sun gear, planet gears and an annular gear meshing with the planet gears, a brake drum connected to the annular gear, a brake band arranged to cooperate with the brake drum, means to release and set said brake band on the brake drum in response to movement of the brake band comprising a'lever having one end of the brake band connected thereto, a link connected to the lever and to the other end of the brakeband, the points of attachment of the brake band and link to the lever being positioned on the lever so that, on movement of the brake band in one direction, the ends of the band will be brought together to tighten the band on the, drum and, on movement of the brake band in the opposite direction, the ends of the band will be moved apart to loosen the band on thedrum, and a spring connected to the lever normally holding the brake band in engagement with the brake drum, the lever being free to move latere ally of the axis of its fulcrum.

3. In a towing machine, a cable drum, a motor and drum connections between the motor and cable drum, including a planetary transmission having a sun gear, planet gears and an annular gear meshing with the planet gears, a brake drum connected to the annular gear of the. transmission, a brake band for the brake drum, means to release and set said brake band on the brake drum in response to movement of the brake band comprising toggle links having a common pivot and at their remote ends connected tothe ends of the brake band, a lever associated with the link connected to the trailing end of the brake band which tends to be pulled around with the brake drum by the friction of the band on the drum, a pivot for the lever located to cause rotation of the lever about such pivot to move the common pivot of the links towardthe drum to spread the brake ends, a spring connected to the lever and arranged and adjusted to oppose rotation of the lever under a predetermined pull of the drum on the brake band end connected to the lever and to permit the lever to turn and move the said common pivot of the links toward the drum as aforesaid when the frictional pull on the brake band exceeds the resistance of the spring. 1 4. In a towing machine, a motor, a cable drum, driving connections between the drum and the motor, including a planetary-type driving transmission comprising a first shaft connected to the cable drum, a second shaft connected to the motor, planet gears connected to the first shaft, a sun gear connected to the second shaft and meshing with the planet gears, an annular gear meshing with the planet gears and arranged to turn independently of both of said shafts, a brake for the annular gear including means to release and to reset said brake automatically in accordance with the pull on the cable drum, a brake for the motor shaft, both of said brakes being set to hold the cable drum stationary under normal conditions, and means operated by the resetting of said annular gear brake to release the motor shaft brake and energize the motor. 5. In a towing machine, a motor, a cable drum, driving connections between the drum and the motor, including a planetary-type driving transmission comprising a first shaft connected to the cable drum, a second shaft connected to the motor, planet gears connected to the first shaft, a sun gear connected to the second shaft and meshing with the planet gears, an annular gear meshing with the planet gears and arranged to turn independently of both of said shafts, a brake for the annular gear, said brake comprising a brake drum connected to the annular gear, a brake band arranged to cooperate with the brake drum, toggle connections between the ends of the brake band, a spring connected to said toggle connections normally holding the brake band in braking engagement with the brake drum, said toggle and spring arrangement being constructed and arranged to automatically release and reset the brake band in accordance with the pull on the cable drum, a brake for the motor shaft, both brakes being set to hold the cable drum stationary under normal conditions, and means operated by the resetting of said annular gear brake to release the motor shaft brake and energize the motor. 6. In a towing machine, a motor, a cable drum, driving connections between the drum and the motor, including a planetary-type driving transmission comprising a first shaft connected to the cable drum, a second shaft connected to the motor, planet gears connected to the first shaft, a sun gear connected to the second shaft and meshing with the planet gears, an annular gear meshing with the planet gears and arranged to turn independently of both of said shafts, a motor control switch operated by movement of the cable drum from a predetermined position, a brake for the annular gear including means to release and to reset said brake automatically in accordance with the pull on the cable drum, a brake for the motor shaft, both of said brakes being set to hold the cable drum stationary under normal conditions, and means operated by the annular gear brake to render the motor inoperative when said brake is released and to release the motor shaft brake and to energize the motor when said brake is reset.

'7. In a towing machine, a motor, a cable drum, driving connections between the drum and the motor, including a planetary-type driving transmission com rising a first shaft connected to the cable drum, a second shaft connected to the motor, planet gears connected to the first shaft, a sun gear connected to the second shaft and meshing with the planet gears, an annular gear meshing with the planet gears and arranged to turn independently of both of said shafts, a motor control switch operated by movement of the cable drum from a predetermined position, a brake for the annular gear, said brake comprising a brake drum connected to the annular gear, a brakeband arranged to cooperate with the brake drum, toggle connections between the ends of the brake band, a spring connected to said toggle connections normally holding the brake band in braking engagement with the brake drum, said toggle and spring arrangement being constructed and arranged to automatically release and reset the brake band in accordance with the pull on the cable drum, a brake for the motor shaft, both brakes being set to hold the cable drum stationary under normal conditions, and means operated by the annular gear brake to render the motor inoperative when said brake is released and to release the motor shaft brake and to energize the motor when said brake is reset.

8. In a towing machine, a motor, a cable drum, driving connections between the drum and the motor, including a planetary-type driving transmission comprising a first shaft connected to the cable drum, a second shaft connected to the motor, planet gears connected to the first shaft, a sun gear connected to the second shaft and meshing with the planet gears, an annular gear meshing with the planet gears and arranged to turn independently of both of said shafts, a selfreleasing and resetting brake for the annular gear, a brake for the motor shaft, both of said brakes being set to hold said cable drum against movement under normal conditions, said annular gear brake being released when the pull on the cable drum exceeds a predetermined amount to permit the cable to pay out while the motor shaft brake remains set and being reset when the pull on the cable drops to the predetermined amount, a motor control switch operated by movement of the cable drum from a predetermined osition, means operated by said annular gear 7 brake to render said motor inoperative when said brake is released and to release the motor shaft brake and energize the motor to drive the cable drum to reclaim the cable paid out when said brake is reset.

- 9. In a towing machine, a cable drum, a first shaft external of the cable drum and geared to the cable drum so that a plurality of shaft turns is required for one turn of the cable drum, 8. second shaft in alignment with the first shaft, a planetary transmission connected to the two shafts, the planet gears of the transmission being connected to the first shaft, the sun gear of the transmission being connected to the second shaft and the annular gear of the transmission being mounted to rotate freely around the axis of the shafts, a motor connected to the second shaft, a brake for the motor, a self-releasing and resetting brake for the annular gear, the brakes being set to prevent rotation of the motor and the annular gears when the pull of the cable on the cable drum is below a predetermined amount, said annular gear brake being released without releasing the motor brake when the cable pull equals the predetermined amount to permit the cable to pay out, and reset when the cable pull falls below the predetermined amount, means controlled by said annular gear brake to render the motor inoperative when said brake is released and to release the motor brake and energize the motor to drive the first shaft through the transmission to reclaim the paid-out cable when said brake is reset, and means controlled by the movement of the cable drum from a predetermined position to operate the motor when the annular gear brake is reset and to de-energize the motor and apply the motor brake when the paid-out cable has been reclaimed.

10. In a towing machine, a cable drum, a motor, driving connections between the motor and the cable drum, including a planetary transmission having a sun gear, planet gears and an annular gear, a brake for the annular gear, a solenoid-controlled brake for the motor shaft, both brakes being normally set, whereby the cable drum is held against rotation under the pull of the cable, electrical circuits adapted to supply current to the motor and the brake solenoid, said annular gear brake including means to release said brake when the pull on the cable exceeds a predetermined amount, a switch in the motor circuit operated by the annular gear brake to open the circuit to the motor and solenoid when said brake is released, whereby the cable drum is permitted to rotate under the pull of the cable to pay out cable while the motor shaft brake remains set, a member connected to and moved in synchronism with the drum, a normally-open second switch in the motor circuit actuated by said member and arranged to be closed by the paying-out rotations of the drum, the annular gear brake also including means to reset said brake and thereby close the first switch when the cable pull falls to the predetermined amount, the circuits being arranged so that, on the closing of the first switch while the second switch is closed, the solenoid of the motor shaft brake is energized to release the motor shaft brake and the motor is energized to drive the cable drum to reclaim the paid-out cable and to return the member to its initial position to open the second switch to de-energize the motor and the solenoid when the paid-out cable has been reclaimed.

MELVIN B. BENSON. 

